Washington Reacts: Did Christie Pass the ‘Test’?

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a news conference Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at the Statehouse in Trenton. N.J.

Associated Press

Following New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s nearly two-hour press conference answering questions about the controversial George Washington Bridge lane closures, House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) told reporters that the governor’s response was likely sufficient to keep him in contention if he runs for president in 2016.

Asked if Mr. Christie’s response was enough to keep him in the top tier of potential 2016 presidential contenders, Mr. Boehner said, “I think so.”

Asked if he had watched Mr. Christie’s press conference, Mr. Boehner wryly responded, “No, I wasn’t fortunate enough to have that opportunity.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) did not watch the press conference but said he had read the emails released in the case, calling them “really bad.” But he said the issue doesn’t require congressional attention.

“Obviously, he still has to do his due diligence, and that’s what you’re looking for in a leader, I don’t care if it’s Democrat or Republican,” Mr. Brown said. “He did pass the test.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus praised Mr. Christie’s behavior during the press conference. “Governor Christie did the right thing today and demonstrated what leaders do when actions of the team are unacceptable and wrong,” Mr. Priebus said.

Sen. Rand Paul (R.,Ky.)—who trails Mr. Christie by just a few points in recent polling of potential 2016 primary matchups—said he did “not really” have a comment on the revelations about the bridge closure or on today’s press conference.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D., N.J.) called for Mr. Christie to “come clean, take full responsibility and explain in detail exactly what occurred” in a statement after the press conference. Calling the Christie administration’s behavior “disgraceful” and an “abuse of public trust,” Mr. Pallone said, “Today’s press conference served to raise more questions than it answered. All of the facts surrounding this incident must be put on the table immediately and any and all appropriate actions should be taken to hold everyone involved accountable.”

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D, N.J.) predicted the emails related to the traffic jam were just the beginning. “I think this is much bigger. Like an onion, it’s coming off leaf by leaf, falling back, and we’re going to see more and more,” Mr. Pascrell said.

David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, tweeted that Mr. Christie handled the press conference “about as well as he could.” He added, “Unless smoking gun turns up tying him to scheme, or others arise, he lives 2 fight another day.”

Sen. John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) said he had only seen news reports about the extended press conference, but downplayed the idea it could hurt Mr. Christie’s future ambitions. “Elections are about the future, and in 2016 people are going to be focused on their own lives, their own families, their own communities and who cares for someone like them. Things that are happening today in the 2016 election are not going to be part of the future,” he said.

The Democratic National Committee issued a scathing statement on Mr. Christie’s conduct during the press conference. “For nearly two hours today, Chris Christie stood up and repeatedly made himself out to be the victim,” DNC Communications Director Mo Elleithee said. “But Chris Christie is not the victim. The people of New Jersey who trusted him are.”

The DNC faulted Mr. Christie for ignoring questions about the lane closures for several months “until his administration was finally caught red-handed,” and for creating a culture in his administration where “this type of conduct was considered appropriate.”

Mr. Christie addressed reporters Thursday after one of his top staffer’s subpoenaed emails showed she had sought to close lanes on the busy George Washington Bridge apparently to punish Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing the governor in his 2013 re-election bid. Mr. Christie fired that staffer Thursday morning. At the press conference, Mr. Christie apologized to New Jersey citizens and said he had been betrayed by his staff.

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